Dry Bones Kart DS is a Nintendo DS game developed by Fantendo and published by IggyKoopa408. It is the fifth installment of the Dry Bones Kart series and the second game for a handheld console. It is the first Dry Bones Kart title to include various standard features of future installments, such as the concept of Retro Cups, online play, and single-player Battle Mode, as well as the revamped driving mechanics that become standard for subsequent installments. It also includes unique modes and features, such as a mission mode and the ability to create custom icons for karts. It also features a map that displays the objects and characters present throughout the courses, making use of the DS's bottom screen.
Dry Bones Kart DS has been generally well received by critics, as such, leading it to earn various awards and acknowledgments.
On June 16th, 2017, the game became available to purchase on the Virtual Console service for the Wii U, via the eShop, coinciding with the near 10th anniversary of the game's initial release, and the 2nd DLC pack for Dry Bones Kart 8. However, the Virtual Console version of the game is only playable in single player mode.
Dry Bones Kart Wii includes two new items: the Blooper and Bullet Bill, which both appear in every game starting with this one. Items can be earned by driving through Item Boxes on the courses, just like in previous games. Once a player has done so, an item will be selected via the Item Roulette. Players can use items by pressing +Control Pad left. In general, players tend to obtain a weak item such as a Banana Peel or a Green Shell when they are in first. However, if players are in a lower place, they obtain a slightly more powerful item such as a Red Shell or Lightning Bolt is more frequent. Usually, the lower the place of the player, the rarer and more powerful the item they get. Starmen, Blue Spiny Shells, and Bullet Bill are examples of powerful items as they provide speed boosts and invincibility.
Items with an asterisk (*) signify this item's last appearance in the Dry Bones Kart series (only appearance for new items).
Image
Name
Description
Mushroom
Gives players a short speed boost that ignores terrain.
Triple Mushrooms
Gives players three Mushrooms, which give separate boosts. It is the default item in Time Trial mode.
This item imitates an Item Box, but is colored red and has an upside down question mark. It causes opponents to flip over once hit. It cannot block item attacks.
When drivers run into a Banana, it causes them to slip and slow down. It can also be held behind the player's vehicle to block attacks from shells and other vehicles.
A blue shell that flies directly to the racer in first place and explodes like a Bob-omb.
Star
The driver obtains total invincibility for 7.5 seconds, allowing them to knock over items, course obstacles, and other players on contact. Also, the driver receives a speed boost and the power to drive off-road with no speed loss. Racers that are hit will lose all items in their possession.
Lightning strikes every racer ahead of the user, causing them to spin out, drop their items and shrink to very small size, driving more slowly. This item takes no effect on racers with invincibility items activated. The effects wear off from lowest place to first. Any users with the Mega Mushroom in effect shrink to normal size.
Squirts ink on any racer ahead of the user, partially obscuring vision. It eventually wears off, but can be immediately removed by a speed boost from a mushroom or boost tile, etc.
Transforms the racer into a large bullet bill, which rockets down the entire track at very high speeds on auto-pilot. The Bullet Bill provides total invincibility and will knock over any item, any course hazard and any player that is in the way, making them lose or drop all their items.
A POW Question Block appears onscreen, flips any racer on the ground ahead of the user, and causes them to drop their items. Players who deploy the wheelie button get a milder version of the effect.
Characters[]
Many characters return from previous installments. There are two new characters: Hammer Bro. and Iggy Koopa.